The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-11-17
G0SS and SONS.

u oANNAo "CAC SCAAC AAs
"Goss and Sons" were in the shop.
Goss was country grocer; the sons
were young fellows OF nineteen and
twenty, John and William; the shop
was a low, wooden edifice, with a
window in front and a window round
the corner, crammed up with mix
lures the most remarkable, and not
set out at all with an eye to effect;
but the place all together was pretty
roomy, for it rambled away into back
shop, warehouse, storehouse, and
even in the family sitting-room there
was cupboard full OF patent medi-
cines. 1t was, in fact, quite a small
"store," for 1t was the only shop in
Hepburn, unless we count two or
three cottages with goodies and ap.
pies in the windows.
"Now. lads, look alive" said Mr..
Gross, busting about in his glory. He
thoroughly enjoyed his business, the
mixture OF fuss, and gossip, and mon
ey-making suited him exactly; and
there was enough interest in the differ
ent fancies of customers, and quail
ties OF goods. to occupy his time am.
ply. He looked upon the great shop
keepers in his own trade, much as
clergyman looks upon the Archbishop
OF Canterbury, or even as q literary
man upon Shakespeare.
The three worked on in silence for
some time.
"ls 1T twopenny or threepenny sugar
Mrs. Reece takes, father?" asked
William presently.
"Threepenny, OF course" struck in
John impatiently.
"Will never knows what belongs"
said his father. "He's always WOOL
gathering, Will isl
evil never supposes anything is
worth thinking about that isn't print.
ed in q book"
cit doesn't need much thinking to
tell him that Sir Benz. Sykes house
keeper does not want common stuff.
What's this? if it's meant for half a
pound, IT'S uncommon good weight"
ooh, we'll! thought a few butter
scotch didn't matter" said Will, turn
ing crimson.
Butter scotch drops!' said John,
picking up his ears; ''they must be
for Miss DuIcie; she must be home
from school them"
Eyes, she was in the shop to-day.
We had two carriages standing at the
door at once" said ola Goss with
pride.
John didn't speak, but he was very
vexed indeed that he had chosen Just
that time to slip out about some po-
tatoes. Even to serve Miss Dulcie
across the counter with half q pound
OF butter-scotch drops was privilege
highly priced by either OF these rustic
admirers.
Will, tying up a parcel, gently hum.
med
TELL me where is fancy bred,
Or in the heart. or in the head?
How besot-how nourished?"
"Nay, lad, you mustn't talk about
fancies," said old Goss, mot for many
long year; you needn't blush either,
Pm not going to have aught of that
sort here, can tell you!"
II wasn't thinking of anything OF
the kind. Miss Dulcie smiles about
us, ! know; not but what great au-
thor's the equal OF anybody"
Miss Dulcle." said John, looking
Mortified "besides, you're not a
great author, Will, so it's allnonsense
talking"
"Not yet, but there's many
one had worse begin
ginnings than me-than 1 have, l
mean," correcting himself.
"Tll tell you what, young man."
said his father, sternly, "If you don't
get q little more sense in your head
with your readin' and writin' and po-
etry. and rubbish, I'll-Tll-'
"Here, father, let's 90 and draw the
treacle for the Rev. Matthew Barton"
said John.
Will, with q tremendous sigh-the
sigh OF the unappreciated, the misun.
derstood-the moment he was left
alone, drew out a book from behind
some rolls OF calico, sat upon
the counter, and was soon
lost to the shop, the orders, the tea,
calico, boots and patent medicines
all but Miss Dulcie. Herbert Spencer,
George Eliot, Macaulay and Shakes.
peare could not drive that little
SCHOOLGIRL out of his mind
1t is five years later. The village
shop is shut, but only for the day.
The villagers are standing about in
groups; some of the more excitab!e
ones have handkerchiefs to their eyes.
Walking slowly along the high road is
O. black procession, the group in front
tolling under a heavy burden. Those
behind are singing, as they draw near
the churchyard-
"The saints OF God, their conflict past"
1.-THE saints of Godv' What
more noble and beautiful title? Who
can 1t be who is now saint of God?
Only old Goss, the grocer. Certainly,
he was q church. warden also latterly.
tie was decent Old fellow. too; hon
est when he could easily have cheated;
kindly and generous when it might
have been more for his interest to be
suspicious and harsh; and if his
''views" were marrow" surely it is
better to be too much afraid OF doing
wrong than not afraid enough Be-
sides. at the last, in his illness, he
shook off his old shop rs @ butterfly
shakes off its chrysalis, and his heart
went home to Heaven. Perhaps the
blacksmith, who headed the choir,
and had chosen the hymn for the sake
OF the tune, had not made such q bad
hit after all.
After that heavy burden walked
the two young men and their mother,
a rather ladylike little woman.
She had been a governess and mar
ried the well-to-do shopkeeper, partly
for a home perhaps, but not alto
gether. She felt his death very much,
o,,1 lcoro1 hao x,S1,> ha e